Characterization of legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in northern bottlenose whales of the western North-Atlantic / by Jean-Pierre W. Desforges, Sascha K. Hooker, Laura Feyrer, Steven H. Ferguson.: Fs97-6/3436E-PDF
"Northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) are a medium sized toothed whale of the North Atlantic. Two Canadian populations exist, one along the Scotian Shelf ("The Gully"; Endangered) and the other around Baffin Bay. The objective of this study was to characterize the concentrations and patterns of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in northern bottlenose whales as related to sex, location, and sampling year. Samples from a stranded individual allowed opportunistic analysis of blubber stratification of POPs. Concentrations of POPs in northern bottlenose whales were similar to other toothed whales in the North Atlantic. Contrary to most marine mammals, levels of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) were higher than polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), suggesting a local source of DDT in the region. Females were found to have lower blubber concentrations of most POPs compared to males due to reproductive offloading. Levels of POPs were also typically higher in Scotian Shelf compared to Arctic animals. Full-depth blubber analysis revealed higher concentrations and proportion of less recalcitrant POPs in the inner blubber relative to middle and outer sections. Future monitoring of these populations would benefit from greater sample sizes, more consistent temporal sampling, and complimentary analysis of biogeochemical tracers to decipher aspects of feeding ecology and habitat use"--Abstract, page vii.
Permanent link to this Catalogue record:
publications.gc.ca/pub?id=9.901476&sl=0
Department/Agency | Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, issuing body. Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Central and Arctic Region. Arctic Aquatic Research Division, issuing body. |
---|---|
Title | Characterization of legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in northern bottlenose whales of the western North-Atlantic / by Jean-Pierre W. Desforges, Sascha K. Hooker, Laura Feyrer, Steven H. Ferguson. |
Series title | Canadian technical report of fisheries and aquatic sciences, 1488-5379 ; 3436 |
Publication type | Series - View Master Record |
Language | [English] |
Format | Electronic |
Electronic document | |
Note(s) | Includes bibliographical references (pages 26-32). Includes abstracts in English and French. |
Publishing information | Winnipeg, MB, Canada : Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Central and Arctic, 2021. ©2021 |
Author / Contributor | Desforges, Jean-Pierre W., author. |
Description | 1 online resource (viii, 32 pages) : colour illustrations, colour maps. |
ISBN | 9780660395517 |
Catalogue number |
|
Subject terms | Northern bottlenose whale -- Effect of chemicals on -- North Atlantic Ocean. Northern bottlenose whale -- Effect of water pollution on -- North Atlantic Ocean. Organochlorine compounds -- North Atlantic Ocean -- Physiological effect. Persistent pollutants -- North Atlantic Ocean -- Physiological effect. Baleine à bec commune -- Effets des produits chimiques sur -- Atlantique Nord. Baleine à bec commune -- Effets de la pollution de l'eau sur -- Atlantique Nord. Composés organochlorés -- Atlantique Nord -- Effets physiologiques. Polluants persistants -- Atlantique Nord -- Effets physiologiques. |
Request alternate formats
To request an alternate format of a publication, complete the Government of Canada Publications email form. Use the form’s “question or comment” field to specify the requested publication.- Date modified: